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(No Model.)

J E. BERING. ANCHOR FOR CHECK ROW LINE S.

No. 266,250. Patented 0015.17, 1882..

fiw W N wrrzns, Phnlo-Lilhugnphar. Washinglml. o c.

NHE STATES JAMES E. BERING, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHAMBERS,BERING & QUINLAN, OF SAME PLAQE.

ANCHOR FOR CHECK-ROW LINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,250, dated October17, 1852.

Application filed January 17, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that 1, JAMES EDWARD BER- ING, of Decatur, in the countyof Macon and State of Illinois, have invented anew and useful Anchor forOheck-Row Lines used in Connection with Corn-Planters, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to anchors for sustaining the check-row lines ofcorn-planters in position, and in particular does it relate to thatclass of anchors which permit of a lateral shift or adjustment of thecheck-row line attached thereto, so that for a single setting of any oneanchor at either end of the line the anchor so set will serve toposition the line, first, while the planter crosses the field away fromsaid anchor, and, second, upon reversal of the plantor, and with thefellow anchor in new position, while the planter returns again to theside where the first anchor is situated, In brief, this class oflaterally-shifting anchors and check-row lines is distinguished by thefact that the anchor at either end once set will cooperate in givingproper alignment to the check-row line while the planter isaccomplishing a double traverse of the field, or from the time theplant-er leaves the side where the anchor is fixed until it returnsagain and the driver of the machine is within easy distance toreset theanchor for planting the subsequent rows.

My invention consists essentially in forming the main portion of theanchor of a flexible cable, chain, wire, or rope, provided with suitableconnections, the construction and mode of operation of all of which willbe readily understood from the accompanying illustration and subjoineddescription.

A designates the main portion of the anchor, which is formed of anysuitable flexible material, preferably cable-wire, wire strand,chain, orrope. At the ends of this main portion A rings or loops are formed,through which pass the pins or stakes by means of which the anchor issecurely retained in the desired position in the field. The check-rowline B is connected to the anchor through the medium of the pulley-block0, having the hook c.

The'manner of using my improved anchor is as follows: Across the fieldto be planted the (No model.)

check-row line is stretched, said line, as well understood, being of anyof the usual forms, having knots or projections at regularly-recurringdistances corresponding to the distances between hills of corn, whichsaid projections coact with suitable mechanism in the checkrower orcorn-planter as it advances across the field, and in succession trip thevalves of the planter, so that the corn is deposited in the hills asdesired. At each end of the checkrow line a flexible anchor, asheretofore described, is attached, said anchors being located at theveryoutset directlyopposite each other, (as described in Reissued PatentNo. 7,522, February 20,1S77;) but when the planter has once crossed thefield they are thereafter set out of line with each other to an extentapproximately equal to the width of the planter, and asillustrated byfull lines in the drawing. For convenience, we will conceive that theplanter has accomplished its first traverse, and, in reverse position,is in readiness to advance across the field to the side from whence itstarted. At such juncture the various parts will be situated as shown bythe full lines of the drawing, the anchor T being in its originalposition against the fence or planted rows, and the anchor I out of linetherewith to an extent approximate ly equal to the width of the planter.In each case the retaining pins or stakes of the two anchors will be setin the ground at a distance apart about equal to the width of theplanter, so that the flexible portion A of the two anchors, in so far asit overlaps or is in excess of such width within proper limits, willpermit the check-row line to adjust itself on the machine to the lateralstretch or pull, and in the end to so far compensate for the offsetrelation of the two anchors that the uniform alignment of the variousrows will always be maintained. The planter, as shown by drawing,proceeds across the field on a right line about central to the anchorfrom which it is receding, and the check-line rests on the planter onthe side nearest to the fence or planted rows. The tension of thecheck-line and its adjustment necessary to regularity in operating thetrip-valves may be readily determined bynoting the distance from theplanter to where the line comes in contact with the ground. As theplanter reaches the end of its traverse the flexible character of theanchor permits of the last rows being set with as ready facility as thepreceding, and this being efl'ected the planter is turned about inposition to recross the tield at a distance nearly equal to the width ofa corn-row from its former path. The anchor 'l is thereafter fixedimmediately behind the planter, (as shown in dotted lines,) thecheck'row line is mounted on the side of the planter next to the plantedrows, as before, and the machine is in readiness to proceed, it beingnoted that anchor T will, without need of removal, shift by the actionof the machine from its old to the new location, (dotted lines,) and soin co-operation serve to position the check-row line during the traverseof the field by the planter.

Instead of having the pins of the anchors set about equal to the widthof the planter, or, in other words, as to the distance between rowsapart, as heretofore described, said pins may be set at double suchdistance and the flexible part of the anchor be correspondinglylengthened, so as to overlap, as before. In such an rangement of theparts, when the planter has accomplished its double traverse withrespect to any one anchor-that is, from the anchor across the field andreturning to it again-it will only be necessary to move and reset thatpiu of the anchor which is located farthest from the planter, or that isin the planted rows. \Vhen reset the adjustment of anchors and cheek-rowline will be the same as heretofore detailed, though it must be apparentthat by having but one pin to fix there is a saving of time and troubleto the operator.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An anchor for check-row lines, formed of flexible material,substantially as described, which adjusts itself to the varying positionof the planter, substantially as set forth.

2. An anchor for check-row lines, having the portion which the check-rowline traverses formed of flexible material, substantially as described.

3. An 211101101fbl'GlICCIi'IOW1ill6S,COllSlStillg of a flexible portion,A, provided with set-pins a, substantially as described.

JAMES EDWARD DERING.

Witnesses:

\VILLIAM M. BOYD, LUOIEN 11. Bu'itaows.

